How to Become the Ultimate Cyber Security Guard

With high-profile cyberattacks being a regular part of the news, most companies understand that anyone could be at risk. However, even with that knowledge, many businesses are ill-equipped in areas like intrusion detection and threat response. This means there is a significant lag between when an attack takes place and when it is finally discovered.

There are methods that can help you become the kind of cyber security guard a company needs to manage these threats more effectively. To help you become the strongest asset in the area of cyber security, here are key points on which to concentrate.

Gather the Data

To be better prepared to manage new attacks, it is important to understand where current vulnerabilities lie. This involves examining threat vectors and potential points of access within a system. Additionally, you need information about previous attacks, both successful and those that were thwarted, to understand what has worked in the past and what hasn’t. Many attackers use common backdoors to access systems. By understanding which tools and systems have been used in the past, you can attempt to profile potential risks in the future.

Often, this information is available within proxy logs and antivirus logs, if not in a larger Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution. While the majority of the data will need to be pulled away to eliminate any noise, the remaining data can create a list of activities that serve as warning signs for other malicious behavior.

Identify Suspicious Activity

Certain patterns within the data could be a sign of trouble. For example, if a particular network connection shows a recurring pattern of bytes in and bytes out on a regular basis, this could be a sign of suspicious activity. Similarly, odd occurrences within endpoints visiting certain sites could also be cause for concern.

If you see a cluster of failed login attempts, this could be a sign of a brute force attack. Additionally, single failed login attempts across multiple accounts could suggest a previously extracted password list is being tested to see if any of the acquired passwords is still valid within the system.

Other signs of trouble can be unexpected privilege changes on user accounts, or the use of alternate credentials on a user’s system. While these could be signs of other authorized activity by internal admins, it is important to review them, should an unexpected pattern be observed.

Watch for Malicious Programs

The detection of any password dumping or dropper programs is always cause for concern. In some cases, threats will run a password dumper, have it detected and removed, only to execute another that ultimately goes unseen. Seeing that one was previously detected means care should be taken to determine if others may be in play.

Similarly, dropper programs may be detected and removed after something malicious has been left behind. If one is spotted, it is important to examine the infected OS in-depth in case something is still sitting on the machine that has yet to initiate.

Keep Learning

New threats are formed seemingly on a daily basis. That means your best form of defense is to stay up to date on the latest trends, technologies and techniques in play. If you are interested in broadening your experience by finding a new position, The Armada Group can help you explore new opportunities in the cyber security field. Contact us and see what a new job may have to offer your career.